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Line server vs beverage server

The differences between line servers and beverage servers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a line server has an average salary of $28,300, which is higher than the $25,886 average annual salary of a beverage server.

The top three skills for a line server include customer service, quality customer service and exceptional guest. The most important skills for a beverage server are drink orders, guest service, and beverage orders.

Line server vs beverage server overview

Line ServerBeverage Server
Yearly salary$28,300$25,886
Hourly rate$13.61$12.45
Growth rate14%10%
Number of jobs246,16579,100
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Average age2328
Years of experience--

What does a line server do?

A line server is responsible for assisting the guests with their needs to ensure an overall satisfying dining experience with the highest quality service. Line servers take and verify guests' orders, provide recommendation for orders, respond to the guests' inquiries regarding the menu, manage the food preparation and serving, assist guests with additional requests, and ensure strict adherence to the sanitary standards and hygienic procedures at all times. Line servers must have excellent communication and time-management skills to interact with different guests and identify their dining needs.

What does a beverage server do?

A beverage server specializes in mixing and preparing drinks, serving them to customers courteously. Their responsibilities also include greeting the customers, taking orders, answering inquiries, offering recommendations when necessary, and checking the customers' identification to confirm their ages. They may also provide assistance to managers by monitoring beverage inventories, receiving and unloading deliveries, organizing supplies and equipment, and maintaining the cleanliness of work areas. Moreover, as a beverage server, it is essential to have a clear communication line with co-workers for smooth work operations.

Line server vs beverage server salary

Line servers and beverage servers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Line ServerBeverage Server
Average salary$28,300$25,886
Salary rangeBetween $21,000 And $36,000Between $20,000 And $33,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between line server and beverage server education

There are a few differences between a line server and a beverage server in terms of educational background:

Line ServerBeverage Server
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 32%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Line server vs beverage server demographics

Here are the differences between line servers' and beverage servers' demographics:

Line ServerBeverage Server
Average age2328
Gender ratioMale, 33.7% Female, 66.3%Male, 13.6% Female, 86.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 6.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.5% White, 57.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 54.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between line server and beverage server duties and responsibilities

Line server example responsibilities.

  • Customer-Orient fast food worker with deep experience with POS systems, food preparation and safety regulations.
  • Experience with making smoothies and hot beverages while making sure customers are satisfied.
  • Take food and drink orders and receive payment from customers, accurately process payment methods via POS system.
  • Establish a positive relationship with co-workers and managers through a solid work ethic, positive attitude, punctuality and dependability.
  • Operate a commercial dishwasher to clean and sanitize flatware, glassware, utensils, and pots and pans.
  • Set correct water temperature and correct amount of dish soap for dishwasher to ensure dishes are clean and sanitize.
  • Show more

Beverage server example responsibilities.

  • Open and close the register, provide credit card and cash reports, and batches on POS.
  • Learned more about different liquor, cocktails and wine, drink mixes and special drink of the month.
  • Work with large amounts of cash as well as credit cards, and knowledge of the POS system.
  • Present menus to guest, answer and give information about menu items such as wine selections to pair with meal.
  • Maintain cleanliness in assign section utilizing a silent service approach.
  • Supervise daily operations to ensure food safety, product preparation, cleanliness standards are maintain.
  • Show more

Line server vs beverage server skills

Common line server skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Quality Customer Service, 20%
  • Exceptional Guest, 7%
  • Excellent Guest, 6%
  • Safety Standards, 4%
  • Food Safety, 3%
Common beverage server skills
  • Drink Orders, 10%
  • Guest Service, 9%
  • Beverage Orders, 8%
  • Exceptional Guest, 6%
  • Guest Satisfaction, 5%
  • Professional Appearance, 5%

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